Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Eye for an Eye - The Code of Hammurabi

Laws govern people. It set
the conduct of every individual in a land with a government. It prevents chaos
and anarchy. Law making had existed ever since man had begun to live together –
in a community to be precise. But codification of law begun much later. The
earliest form of law found by archaeologist was the Code of Hammurabi. The code
was instituted by the great king of early Babylonian Empire, Hammurabi.

The Code of Hammurabi was
the law promulgated in the early Babylonian Empire. It was composed and carved
in stone during about 1760 BCE. The 282 articles of the code were carved in two
stone tablets, each were 7 feet tall. The King was mostly the judge and
executor of the law. Also, its famous rule – “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a
tooth” - implied that if an individual done something to another, he/ she would
receive the same act as punishment.

The law covered various
concerns. Sacrilege was harshly punished. For example, a man who stole from the
temple would be executed and the receiver of the stolen item from temple also
faced death. Slaves were also regulated under the Code of Hammurabi. According
to the law, If a person provided refuge for a slave and did not announced it
publicly, he was punishable by death. Also, under the Code, profession were
guided by the law. It recognized occupations such as shepherds, gardeners,
merchants, tavern-keepers, prostitutes, surgeons, barbers, builders, ship
builders, and many more. Most of the time, payments for these services were
also regulated by the code. Each class paid different rates. The nobles paid
the highest, then the freeman, and then slaves. Usually, service fees charged
on slaves were paid not by the slaves but by their masters. Malpractice was
also punished severely. Surgeons who failed to cure patients face amputation of
their hands. Builders that built weak house, which caused deaths, were
executed. Shipbuilders whose ships broke down in a middle of a voyage was
mandated to repair it free of charge.

The Code also dictated laws
concerning certain actions. For example, drinking. The code mentioned that if a
priestess was caught drinking in a tavern, she was burned to death. Slander was
also curtailed by the Hammurabi Code. Slander done to a priestess or a wife of
another man would lead to the cutting or shaving of the brows of the
perpetrator. Adultery was also punishable either by drowning or pardon by the
husband. Mitigating circumstances, however, were permitted. For example, if a
soldier became a prisoner of war, his wife back home could live with another
man and bear children for that other man. If the soldier managed to return from
captivity, the wife must return to the soldier, but the children that she born
for the other man must stay with their father.

The Hammurabi Code also
allowed Kings to carve their decisions in stones. The stone of their decision
then became model cases for future kings to use in judging cases.

The Code of Hammurabi was
one of the greatest contributions of the Babylonians. So far, being the
earliest code of law, it showed the progress of humanity. It showed how man
continued to progress and develop civilization itself. It also became a source
of the life back during the time King Hammurabi. Thus, the Code of Hammurabi is
known as one of the greatest artifacts in world history.